Texas Bar Journal - April 2017

ATJ Pro Bono Champion

Lu Ann Treviño 2017-03-29 18:40:16

Lu Ann Treviño, a solo practitioner focusing on consumer advocacy in Houston, worked 20 years in clinical laboratories and raised two children before deciding to go back to school and earn her law degree. As an Army veteran, she feels a duty to help fellow military families and others in need through pro bono service.
Has your background influenced your pro bono efforts? How?
The desire to be a decent human was all that I needed. Because of my own military service and the fact that there are so many new veterans now, I felt the need to assist them and their families. It is easier for these men and women to accept guidance in legal and financial matters from someone who has shared the military experience.
How did you get started and how long have you been doing pro bono work?
In my practice area, I meet many people who are suffering from situations they did not create and cannot control such as catastrophic injury or illness. These people need legal assistance to protect them from unscrupulous creditors, third-party debt collectors, and equally unscrupulous “assistance” programs. Pro bono work has been a part of my practice from the beginning.
Why do you make time for pro bono?
I do it to help people who need a chance to get back on their feet, to save families, and because it is the right thing to do.
How do you balance pro bono cases with your regular workload?
I generally take on many small matters rather than complicated individual cases so I can do the most good.
What advice do you have for a lawyer starting out with pro bono?
Pro bono work will find you. The trick is to learn who really needs the help and will appreciate it as opposed to the ones who merely want something for nothing.
Share a pro bono success story with us.
I successfully defended a World War II veteran and his wife in lawsuits to collect unjust consumer debts. These lovely people were still working to make a living and were both suffering from chronic illnesses and physical injuries from a recent car crash. They had no support network and the stress of the litigation was impeding their recoveries. My work defeated the collectors and obtained a small cash settlement for them, which gave them a chance to get back on their feet.